SAN JOSE — Justin Watkins had just worked the closing shift at GameStop in Westfield Oakridge Mall on Memorial Day weekend and was walking home when he apparently decided to take a shortcut on Hayes Avenue. It turned out to be a deadly decision.

Watkins, who moved back to California from Ohio about three months ago, was shot to death in what police say may have been a random act of violence.

The killing was one of five homicides during a bloody weeklong stretch in the Bay Area’s largest city. As of Monday, police said they haven’t identified suspects in any of them.

Now his grieving family is searching for answers and seeking justice for a young man known to family and friends as “DJ” or simply “Jay.”

“To have my nephew taken from us at such a young age and in such a senseless manner, on a street I’ve walked on many times in my life, I just can’t understand it,” said Jerrell Watkins, Justin’s uncle.

Justin Watkins and his family were planning his 21st birthday celebration on May 29. Jerrell Watkins said his nephew wanted to keep it simple with a family dinner and a trip to a downtown nightclub with his uncles, Jerrell and Hardy Watkins

“He wanted me to take him to a club,” said Jerrell Watkins, who then recalled how he answered his nephew. “Celebrate you being 21. I’d love to do it.”

On May 26, Watkins was heading home along Hayes Avenue to his uncle Hardy’s house near Monterey Road when he was shot, according to Jerrell Watkins. He died at 10:25 p.m.

“Justin wasn’t a troublemaker,” Jerrell Watkins said. “He was a real good kid. This kid was full of life. The boy hasn’t been here long enough to have enemies.”

Watkins was born in San Jose, but when he was 8 moved with his mother to Lima, Ohio, Jerrell Watkins said. He returned to California in February to be with family, including uncles, grandparents and cousins who live in San Jose. He leaves behind his parents, Deon Watkins of Hemet and Toni Mitchell, and a 1-year-old daughter, Allison, in Ohio.

“Justin deserves justice,” Jerrell Watkins said. “That’s all we want to really see, is justice for Justin. This kid, he didn’t know anybody. This is just senseless. This was a good kid trying to put his life back together.”

Detectives are actively working on what might have fueled the attack on Watkins.

“We’re exploring various avenues. We’re trying piece together whether he has any issues with anybody prior to that confrontation,” said Officer Albert Morales, a police spokesman.

Morales said while the motive for Watkins’ slaying is still being determined, he did acknowledge, as many in the community have, that gang activity has been on an uptick in the neighborhood.

Hardy Watkins described his nephew as a helpful, respectful kid who was an aspiring rapper who went by the name Fenix the Answer. He had just recorded some music in a studio.

Justin Watkins considered his employment at GameStop a dream job because he hoped to one day work in the video gaming industry, and he planned to enroll at a local community college to pursue that goal. A GameStop spokesperson said Watkins had been working at the store for about one month.

Justin didn’t have a car, so he would sometimes ride a bicycle to work. But when the bike recently had a flat tire, he told his uncle he didn’t mind walking the 4 miles between the mall and home.

The family is hoping someone will step forward and provide police with information that leads to an arrest in Watkins’ death.

“We’re just hoping someone has a heart and will let police know what happened,” Hardy Watkins said.

Justin Watkins had also recently been baptized at Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Jose, where his grandparents are longtime members.

“He wanted to save some money to buy a car and go to college,” Jerrell Watkins said. “That’s all he talked to me about.”

Watkins was also planning on helping coach youth football with his uncles Jerrell and Hardy, longtime coaches in a South San Jose league. Although he didn’t play in high school, he was anxious to do what he could to assist them.

“He just liked to help with the kids,” Hardy Watkins said. “He was good with people.”

Jerrell Watkins said he talked to his nephew two or three times per week, including the Thursday before he died.

“I know somebody saw something, somebody knows something,” Jerrell Watkins said. “Our family has no anger towards the person. We forgive whoever did it. Justin was saved. He was baptized. There is no vengeance with us. We want justice.”

Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Sgt. Steve Bustillos or Detective Jaime Jimenez at 408-277-5283 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP (7867) or with svcrimestoppers.org.

Staff writer Robert Salonga contributed to this report. Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869. Follow him on Twitter@MarkMgomez.

Mark Gomez has worked for the Mercury News since 1992, including the past ten years as a reporter on the breaking news/public safety team. He is a South Bay native and graduate of San Jose State University.